Back
Cyber Security Training & Software for Companies | MetaCompliance

Products

Discover our suite of personalised Security Awareness Training solutions, designed to empower and educate your team against modern cyber threats. From policy management to phishing simulations, our platform equips your workforce with the knowledge and skills needed to safeguard your organisation.

Cyber Security eLearning

Cyber Security eLearning to Explore our Award-Winning eLearning Library, Tailored for Every Department

Security Awareness Automation

Schedule Your Annual Awareness Campaign In A Few Clicks

Phishing Simulation

Stop Phishing Attacks In Their Tracks With Award-Winning Phishing Software

Policy Management

Centralise Your Policies In One Place And Effortlessly Manage Policy Lifecycles

Privacy Management

Control, Monitor, and Manage Compliance with Ease

Incident Management

Take Control Of Internal Incidents And Remediate What Matters

Back
Industry

Industries

Explore the versatility of our solutions across diverse industries. From the dynamic tech sector to healthcare, delve into how our solutions are making waves across multiple sectors. 


Financial Services

Creating A First Line Of Defence For Financial Service Organisations

Governments

A Go-To Security Awareness Solution For Governments

Enterprises

A Security Awareness Training Solution For Large Enterprises

Remote Workers

Embed A Culture Of Security Awareness - Even At Home

Education Sector

Engaging Security Awareness Training For The Education Sector

Healthcare Workers

See Our Tailored Security Awareness For Healthcare Workers

Tech Industry

Transforming Security Awareness Training In The Tech Industry

NIS2 Compliance

Support Your Nis2 Compliance Requirements With Cyber Security Awareness Initiatives

Back
Resources

Resources

From posters and policies to ultimate guides and case studies, our free awareness assets can be used to help improve cyber security awareness within your organisation.

Cyber Security Awareness For Dummies

An Indispensable Resource For Creating A Culture Of Cyber Awareness

Dummies Guide To Cyber Security Elearning

The Ultimate Guide To Implementing Effective Cyber Security Elearning

Ultimate Guide To Phishing

Educate Employees About How To Detect And Prevent Phishing Attacks

Free Awareness Posters

Download These Complimentary Posters To Enhance Employee Vigilance

Anti Phishing Policy

Create A Security-Conscious Culture And Promote Awareness Of Cyber Security Threats

Case Studies

Hear How We’re Helping Our Customers Drive Positive Behaviour In Their Organisations

A-Z Cyber Security Terminology

A Glossary Of Must-Know Cyber Security Terms

Cyber Security Behavioural Maturity Model

Audit Your Awareness Training And Benchmark Your Organisation Against Best Practice

Free Stuff

Download Our Free Awareness Assets To Improve Cyber Security Awareness In Your Organisation

Back
MetaCompliance | Cyber Security Training & Software for Employees

About

With 18+ years of experience in the Cyber Security and Compliance market, MetaCompliance provides an innovative solution for staff information security awareness and incident management automation. The MetaCompliance platform was created to meet customer needs for a single, comprehensive solution to manage the people risks surrounding Cyber Security, Data Protection and Compliance.

Why Choose Us

Learn Why Metacompliance Is The Trusted Partner For Security Awareness Training

Employee Engagement Specialists

We Make It Easier To Engage Employees And Create a Culture of Cyber Awareness

Leadership

Meet the MetaCompliance Leadership Team

MetaBlog

Stay informed about cyber awareness training topics and mitigate risk in your organisation.

The Importance of Security Awareness Training for Non-Employees

security awareness training

about the author

Share this post

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, organisations face a multitude of cyber security threats. While much emphasis is placed on training employees to recognise and mitigate these risks, there is an often-overlooked group with significant potential vulnerabilities – non-employees. These individuals, such as contractors, vendors, and partners, have access to sensitive information or systems, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals.

In this article, we shed light on the security risks posed by non-employees and emphasise the critical role of Security Awareness Training in fortifying businesses beyond their workforce.

The Insider Threat: Extending Beyond Employees

The 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report revealed that 19% of data breaches were caused by insider threats. When we hear the term “insiders,” it’s easy to assume it refers solely to employees within an organisation’s network. However, insider threats extend far beyond employees alone. Contractors, vendors, and partners can also pose a threat to a company’s security. A staggering 41% of insider threats were perpetrated by partners or contractors, highlighting the substantial risk these external entities present.

Understanding the Risks Non-Employees Face

Non-employees may have varying levels of familiarity with an organisation’s security protocols and lack the same level of cyber security expertise as regular employees. This knowledge gap makes them susceptible to social engineering attacks, phishing attempts, and other cyber threats.

With access to critical company resources, including databases, customer information, and intellectual property, they may use their own devices or access data through public networks, creating potential security vulnerabilities. A real-life example of the devastating consequences of such a breach is T-Mobile, which suffered a massive data breach in January 2023 when hackers gained access through a third-party vendor, affecting over 40 million customers.

The Crucial Role of Security Awareness Training for Non-Employees

According to ISO 27001/2 clause 7.2.2 “all employees of the organization and, where relevant, contractors and third-party users should receive appropriate awareness training and regular updates in organizational policies and procedures, as relevant for their job function“.

Providing Security Awareness Training to non-employees can significantly reduce cyber security incidents. When equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills, these individuals become an additional line of defence against cyber attacks, lowering the likelihood of breaches and data compromises.

Extending Security Awareness Training to non-employees enhances an organisation’s overall security posture by encompassing all individuals with access to resources. Creating a robust security culture and promoting responsibility and awareness among both employees and non-employees fosters a collective effort to safeguard critical assets, strengthening the overall security landscape.

Assessing Existing Training Programs

Organisations should first determine if non-employees already have a Security Awareness Training program in place. Evaluating the effectiveness of their existing program is equally important. This evaluation can help identify any gaps or areas for improvement while ensuring that all individuals with access to company resources are adequately trained.

Read more: Security Awareness Training With Third-Party Suppliers

Extending Security Awareness Training Beyond the Workforce

To ensure the success of Security Awareness Training for non-employees, organisations should consider the following:

  • Tailored Training: Design training programs that cater to the specific needs and roles of non-employees within the organisation. Address the unique risks they may encounter and provide practical guidance on avoiding and responding to potential threats.
  • Engaging Content: Make the training interactive and engaging to capture non-employees’ interest and motivation to learn. Leveraging gamification techniques can bridge the knowledge gap and increase cyber security awareness among this vulnerable group.
  • Clear Communication: Emphasise the importance of security awareness and how it directly impacts the organisation’s success. Highlight the shared responsibiltiy in safeguarding information.
  • Regular Training: Ensure that non-employees receive regular training, as people tend to forget important information over time. A study conducted by USENIX on the effectiveness of Security Awareness Training revealed that employees retained the knowledge from their initial training for approximately four months. However, after six months, their ability to spot phishing emails diminished significantly.

Conclusion

Prioritising Security Awareness Training for non-employees is essential for organisations to strengthen their overall cyber security posture, mitigate insider threats, and protect sensitive data from potential breaches. Extending security training efforts beyond employees ensures that all individuals with access to company resources are well-equipped to defend against cyber threats. By fostering a collective effort to safeguard critical assets, organisations can fortify their defence against cybercriminals and protect their reputation, competitive advantage, and financial stability.

Other Articles on Cyber Security Awareness Training You Might Find Interesting